Pacquiao could be set for surgery

Manny Pacquiao will undergo surgery on a shoulder injury this week and could be out of action for up to a year following his unanimous points defeat by Floyd Mayweather, according to reports in the United States.

Pacquiao could also face a possible fine or suspension after answering ‘no’ on a Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) questionnaire ahead of the welterweight unification showdown in Las Vegas last Saturday.

He did not submit any injuries before the fight, but cited a shoulder problem after it.

”We were planning to postpone because for two weeks I didn’t train well. We couldn’t do what we wanted to because of my shoulder,” Pacquiao said after the bout.

”From the third round I felt the pain in my shoulder. When I threw a lot of punches it hurt, so I backed off.”

He could now be set to spend time out of the ring while he recovers.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache told ESPN.com that 36-year-old Pacquiao will have surgery to fix a “significant tear” in his rotator cuff this week which looks set to enforce a nine- to 12-month absence from the ring.

ESPN added that the surgeon is understood to have examined Pacquiao in Los Angeles on Monday.

NAC executive director Bob Bennett said: “It’s not just the fact he didn’t fill out the question completely, it was that he wasn’t honest and they didn’t tell us a month ago when he had the shoulder injury.

“They’re not obligated to, but two hours before the fight they wanted a shot that’s a painkiller, in essence. That put us in a very precarious position.”